Electric rocker switch for controlling multiple circuits with magnetic coupling members

ABSTRACT

An electric rocker switch for controlling a plurality of different circuit combinations. The rocker is pivotally mounted in a frame and held in normal &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position by a spring-urged member and adapted for movement in each of two &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; directions including a permanent magnet mounted in each end of the rocker, positioned to engage mating magnets for holding the rocker in each of its two &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; positions. The rocker contains a plurality of contacts to engage mating contacts in the body of the switch, which contacts may be connected to control a plurality of different circuits.

United States Patent Harmon June 27, 1972 [541 ELECTRIC ROCKER SWITCHFOR CONTROLLING MULTIPLE CIRCUITS 3,519,775 7/1970 Weremey ..200/6 BB X2,849,549 8/ 1958 Elliott ..200/6 BB 1,077,380 11/1913 Wellman........200/6 BBX 1,989,277 H1935 Jeffrey ..200/6 BB 2,802,204 8/1957Kennelly et al. .........200/61 .45 M UX Primary Examiner-J. R. ScottAttorney-Lloyd J. Andres [57] ABSTRACT An electric rocker switch forcontrolling a plurality of clifferent circuit combinations. The rockeris pivotally mounted in a frame and held in normal off position by aspring-urged member and adapted for movement in each of two "on"directions including a permanent magnet mounted in each end of therocker, positioned to engage mating magnets for holding the rocker ineach of its two on" positions. The rocker contains a plurality ofcontacts to engage mating contacts in the body of the switch, whichcontacts may be connected to control a plurality of diflerent circuits.

PMEHTEDJUJJN 1 :72

SHEEI 1 BF 3 if FIG .10

ITWENTOR. JAMES R, HARMON PATEHTEUJU2-12 7 m2 SHEET 2 U? 3 LOAD FIG 2OPRJEHTEDJUHN 1272 3.673 .358

SHEET 3 OF 3 18 NORMAL 18 OFF ON 14; 14!

110 VAC llOVAC 1OAMP iOAMP FIG 22 FIG 23 L0A01 LOAD /14f\ LINE 11OVACLINE A -A A0? 110 VAC LOAD LINE FIG .24 FIG 25 LOAD- STAYS LINE 110 VACPIC-3.26

- 110 VAC LOAD LOAD OFF-ON 7+ ilOVAC INVENTOR. JAMES R. HARMON ELECTRICROCKER SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING MULTIPLE CIRCUITS WITH MAGNETIC COUPLINGMEMBERS This invention relates in general to manual electric switchesand more particularly to a rocker type manual electric switch formovement to two "on" positions from a neutral oI'P' position withterminals for controlling a plurality of different circuits.

Prior manual electric switches, particularly of the button, toggle, androcker type employ over-center spring means for holding the switch in an"off" off position or with the contacts together and the terminalsthereof adapted to control relatively few circuits.

The present invention overcomes the above mechanical disadvantages andcircuit limitations and is adapted to low cost manufacture by theprovision of a rocker type switch which is held in each of its twooperating positions by permanent magnets. The switch is provided withsix external tenninals for providing a large number of electriccircuits.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of theinvention are described and shown in the following specification anddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the switch with the rocker thereof inofF' position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the switch shown in FIG. 1 in reduced scalewith a portion thereof broken away.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side elevation in reduced scale, takenthrough section line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation in enlarged scale taken through section line44, FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken through the side opposite thatshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view in reduced scale taken through sectionline 6-6, FIG. I, with the rocker thereof moved to 8" position.

FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 5 with the contacts in the rocker in their 8"position.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view taken through section line 88, FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional end elevation taken through section line 99,FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the under side of the rocker shown inFIG. I.

FIG. 11 is a perspective exploded view of the contact arrangement in theswitch shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. I2 is a schematic diagram of the terminals when the switchterminals are in open circuit position.

FIG. I3 is a schematic diagram of the terminals connected for S.P.S.T.operation.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of the terminals connected in S.P.3.T.position.

FIG. I5 is a schematic diagram with the terminals connected in S.P.4.T.position.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram with the terminals connected in S.P.3.T.position with the load and line terminals connected different than shownin FIG. 14.

FIG. I7 is a schematic diagram with the terminals connected in S.P.4.T.position with the load and line terminals connected different than shownin FIG. 15.

FIG. I8 is a schematic diagram with the terminals connected in S.F.4.T.position with load and line terminals connected different than shown inFIG. I7.

FIG. I9 is a schematic diagram with terminals connected in D.P.D.T.position.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram with the terminals connected in S.P.4.T.position different than the load and line terminals shown in FIG. I8.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram with the terminals connected in S.F.D.T.position with the load and line terminals connected for larger currentthan shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing simple off-on" terminalconnections.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for normal "off-on" connections forhigher current rating.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing connections for off-on" circuitsto two independent loads.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a pair of lines connected toindependent terminals for connection to a corresponding pair ofindependent load terminals.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of the terminal connections formaintaining a through circuit and simultaneously opening or closing twoindependent load circuits.

Referring to FIG. I, a switch body 1 is molded from plastic materialhaving high dielectric properties, such as polycarbonate, and is ofgenerally rectangular shape and has a stamped metal mounting plate 2secured to the body I by a pair of ears 3 laterally positioned atopposite sides of the plate for snap-on engagement with outstandingprojections from opposite sides of the body I. A manual actuated rocker4 is pivotally mounted in body 4, by means to be hereinafter described,and extends through a clearance aperture in the mounting plate 2. Therocker has a divergent upper surfaces A and B for designating operatingpositions. The plate 1 is provided with suitable holes through oppositeextensions for mounting purposes.

Referring to FIGS. I, 2, and 4, the rocker 4 has molded therein atransverse shalt 5 having an integral cam 6 on one end thereof with atransverse V notch therein, better shown in FIG. 2. The rocker ispivoted for oscillation about axis a-a by a pair of bearings formed bycars 7-7, which are integral with the opposite sides of plate 2. Avertical bore 8 in one side of the body I directly below the axis a-aretains a spring 9 and a ball III, which ball is urged into contact withthe V groove in cam 6, forming a self-centering detent, as shown in FIG.2. It is now apparent that when the rocker 4 is alternately depressedfrom either the A or B side, the spring will tend to urge the rockerreturn to its central or off position, as shown in FIG. 2.

The cross sectional view, FIG. 3, shows a pair of permanent magnetslI-II molded into pillars I2-l2 positioned centrally within oppositeends of the body I. The magnets are retained in the molded body I bysuitable shape or by projections extending therefrom. The rocker 4 alsohas a pair of like permanent magnets I3 molded in integral oppositecentral projections, as shown, with the outer surface of each magnet I3thereof adapted to mate with the upper surface of each magnet II whenthe rocker is operated.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and I I, the rocker has a pair of electric contactsI414 secured in opposite ends of a conducting bridge 15, which bridge ismolded transversely into the "A portion of the rocker with the contactsI4 projecting therefrom, as shown in FIG. I0.

A second pair of contacts 14- I4 are secured to a conducting bridge I6,which is molded into the "B" portion of the rocker with the contactsprojecting therefrom, as shown.

A third pair of contacts l4-I4 are secured to conducting bridge I7 andmolded in predetermined spaced relation to bridge 16 in the 8" portionof the rocker.

FIG. 11 shows a common conducting terminal bracket I8 which electricallyconnects three of the contacts M] in different positions and providesfor three terminal screws, which bracket is shown in operative positionin FIG. 5 retained within the body I by screws I9. A terminal bracket 10provides for a terminal screw 19 carrying a contact l4], shown in FIG.5, secured in the body I by a fourth screw 19.

Referring to FIG. 8, a terminal bracket II is secured in the oppositeside of the base I by a fiflh screw 19 and a sixth bracket 12 ispositioned on the same side as the bracket 21 and retained by screw I9.

In operation and referring to FIGS. I and 2, the rocker 4 is held in itsidle or "of!" position by the action of spring 9 urging the ball 10 intothe V groove in cam 6. When the "B side of the rocker is manuallydepressed the spring 9 will be depressed by the action of cam 6 and theball I0 and the rocker will assume an "on" position, shown in FIG. 7,and will be held in the on position by the mutual attractive force ofmagnets II and I3, shown in FIGS. 6 and 9.

The rocker will be returned to its normal olf" position by relativelylight pressure on portion A" of the rocker or near balanced pressurebetween .A" and 8" thereof, which breaks the holding force and permitsthe spring 9 to return the rocker to its "of!" position.

lt is now apparent that when the portion "A" of the magnet is depressed,the earn 6 will overcome the spring 9 and permit the mutual attractionof the opposite magnets 11 and 13 to hold the rocker in a positionopposite to that shown in FIG. 7 and likewise permit the return to itsidle off position by slight pressure on the B" portion of the toggle orslightly unbalanced pressure on both "A" and B portions, but favoringthe B" portion.

Referring to FIG. 18, the electric conducting bridges and brackets areshown in their relative positions and are formed from low resistancematerial with the brackets threaded to receive screws 19 under whichlugs or electric conductors may be secured.

The six terminal screws 19 and corresponding contacts are illustratedschematically in FIG. 12 and may be connected to control a large numberof different circuit formations, such as shown in FIGS. 13 26. However,the connections are not limited to the fourteen different circuitformations shown.

This invention comprehends certain modifications in construction thatfall within the teachings and scope of the above specification.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A manual multiple contact electric switch comprising a means forminga generally rectangular hollow body of dielectric material with an openside,

a plate secured on the open side of said body for securing said switchto a retaining means and having a clearance aperture marginallypositioned over and around said open side of said body,

an operating rocker of dielectric material adapted for oscillation abouta central transverse axis by pivot means extending from opposite sidesthereof journalled in said plate with said rocker extending through saidaperture into said body for movement from an idle "off" position foroscillation through a predetermined angle in opposite directions aboutsaid axis,

a self centering cam in one side of said rocker coaxial with said axis,

spring means in said body for self centering said cam and said rocker toits said idle off position when displaced said angle in eitherdirection,

a first permanent magnet centrally secured in one end portion of theinner side of the bottom of said body and a second magnet centrallysecured in the opposite end portion of the said inner side of the saidbottom,

a first and second electric body contact secured in transverse spacedrelation in one end portion of the said inner side of the said bottom inparallel with and a first distance from said axis,

a third and fourth electric body contact secured in transverse spacedrelation in the said opposite end portion of the said inner side of thesaid bottom parallel with and a second distance from said axis,

a fifth and sixth electric contact secured in spaced relation in thesaid opposite end portion of said inner side of said bottom parallelwith said axis and a predetermined distance from said third and fourthsaid contacts,

a first terminal conductor securing said first and second and thirdelectric contacts in said body,

a second terminal conductor securing said fourth contact in said body,

a third terminal conductor securing said fifth contact in said body,

a fourth terminal conductor securing said sixth contact in said body,

a first pair of electrically common rocker contacts secured in the underside of said rocker positioned for mating engagement with said first andsecond contacts a second pair of electrically common roclter contactssecured in the under side of said rocker positioned for matingengagement with said second and third contacts,

a third pair of electrically common rocker contacts secured in the underside of said rocker positioned for mating relation with said filth andsixth contacts whereby a plurality of different electric circuits may beconnected to selected said terminal conductors to operate a plurality ofelectric circuits when said rocker is moved from said idle to a selectedon position.

2. In a manual multiple contact rocker switch of the character describedmeans forming a hollow body of dielectric material with an open side,

an operating rocker of dielectric material secured for oscillation abouta central transverse axis in said open side of said body by a pivotmeans secured thereto,

a spring operated self centering means for said rocker cooperativelypositioned between the latter and said body for normally urging saidrocker into central off position,

a permanent magnet in each opposite under side of said rocker,

a second permanent magnet positioned in spaced relation in said body forholding engagement with each corresponding first mentioned magnet forholding said rocket in each of two oscillated positions against therestraining action of said self centering means when selectivelymanually displaced,

a plurality of independent contact means secured in each opposite innerend portion of said body with said contact means terminating in externalterminal means,

mating embedded electric contact means in the under side of each endportion of said rocker means for selective contact and holdingengagement thereto by said magnet means when said rocker is manuallyselectively moved to each of its two said positions for electricallyconnecting predetermined said terminal means.

i ll i t i

1. A manual multiple contact electric switch comprising a means forminga generally rectangular hollow body of dielectric material with an openside, a plate secured on the open side of said body for securing saidswitch to a retaining means and having a clearance aperture marginallypositioned over and around said open side of said body, an operatingrocker of dielectric material adapted for oscillation about a centraltransverse axis by pivot means extending from opposite sides thereofjournalled in said plate with said rocker extending through saidaperture into said body for movement from an idle ''''off'''' positionfor oscillation through a predetermined angle in opposite directionsabout said axis, a self centering cam in one side of said rocker coaxialwith said axis, spring means in said body for self centering said camand said rocker to its said idle ''''off'''' position when displacedsaid angle in either direction, a first permanent magnet centrallysecured in one end portion of the inner side of the bottom of said bodyand a second magnet centrally secured in the opposite end portion of thesaid inner side of the said bottom, a first and second electric boDycontact secured in transverse spaced relation in one end portion of thesaid inner side of the said bottom in parallel with and a first distancefrom said axis, a third and fourth electric body contact secured intransverse spaced relation in the said opposite end portion of the saidinner side of the said bottom parallel with and a second distance fromsaid axis, a fifth and sixth electric contact secured in spaced relationin the said opposite end portion of said inner side of said bottomparallel with said axis and a predetermined distance from said third andfourth said contacts, a first terminal conductor securing said first andsecond and third electric contacts in said body, a second terminalconductor securing said fourth contact in said body, a third terminalconductor securing said fifth contact in said body, a fourth terminalconductor securing said sixth contact in said body, a first pair ofelectrically common rocker contacts secured in the under side of saidrocker positioned for mating engagement with said first and secondcontacts, a second pair of electrically common rocker contacts securedin the under side of said rocker positioned for mating engagement withsaid second and third contacts, a third pair of electrically commonrocker contacts secured in the under side of said rocker positioned formating relation with said fifth and sixth contacts whereby a pluralityof different electric circuits may be connected to selected saidterminal conductors to operate a plurality of electric circuits whensaid rocker is moved from said idle to a selected ''''on'''' position.2. In a manual multiple contact rocker switch of the character describedmeans forming a hollow body of dielectric material with an open side, anoperating rocker of dielectric material secured for oscillation about acentral transverse axis in said open side of said body by a pivot meanssecured thereto, a spring operated self centering means for said rockercooperatively positioned between the latter and said body for normallyurging said rocker into central ''''off'''' position, a permanent magnetin each opposite under side of said rocker, a second permanent magnetpositioned in spaced relation in said body for holding engagement witheach corresponding first mentioned magnet for holding said rocket ineach of two oscillated positions against the restraining action of saidself centering means when selectively manually displaced, a plurality ofindependent contact means secured in each opposite inner end portion ofsaid body with said contact means terminating in external terminalmeans, mating embedded electric contact means in the under side of eachend portion of said rocker means for selective contact and holdingengagement thereto by said magnet means when said rocker is manuallyselectively moved to each of its two said positions for electricallyconnecting predetermined said terminal means.